So has the vet actually felt his knee? I'm just confused as to why the vet can't tell if the cruciate is torn. You can't see the tear on x-ray, x-rays are usually just to make sure there is nothing else going on?

Either way x-rays would be good if your vet isn't really feeling that the knee is torn. We had a dog come in who looked like her knee would be torn - but the knee wasn't lax at all, she ended up having a fracture in her tarsal bone that we actually couldn't see, we had to send the x-rays to a specialty place for reading. The dog had to be in a cast for several weeks, she just got her splint off today and seems to be good as new.

I'm sending lots of good thoughts, I hope whatever it is is something easily fixable and not too scary

plebayo wrote:So has the vet actually felt his knee? I'm just confused as to why the vet can't tell if the cruciate is torn. You can't see the tear on x-ray, x-rays are usually just to make sure there is nothing else going on?

Yes, his knee was manipulated a few years ago when he was limping and last recent visit. A few years ago, it was "lax" but he stopped limping with the Rimadyl. This time it was still "lax" but not where he felt it was an emergency to get him in for xrays.

These aren't the Vet's words, but my interpretation of what is going on and what was said: He favors his leg, not always putting full weight on the foot, but other times he does put weight on it. The x-rays are to see if there is anything else going on in there and to see whatever he can with the knee.

I remember Darlene's xray, and I could have sworn, I saw the cruciate torn and meniscus ripped.

My concern, other than the price of all of this stuff and if there is surgery, is what those of you who own extra-large breed dogs know....cruciate recuperation sucks because I will have to get him up and down and outside. He outweighs me. In and out of the SUV for Vet visits will be difficult, too.

I remember Darlene's xray, and I could have sworn, I saw the cruciate torn and meniscus ripped.

My concern, other than the price of all of this stuff and if there is surgery, is what those of you who own extra-large breed dogs know....cruciate recuperation sucks because I will have to get him up and down and outside. He outweighs me. In and out of the SUV for Vet visits will be difficult, too.

Is there actual laxity in the knee like the knee is actually torn? Maybe the first time it healed itself? [which can happen.] Maybe it's only a partial?

I talked to one of the dr's and she said on regular x-ray you can only see arthritic changes/bone changes if the cruciate has been torn for some time. She said you can see a tear on a ct/mri but not on standard x-ray. Maybe you were seeing those kinds of changes, I saw you mention you've had 4 knees done so maybe the changes were visible in your other dogs. Also I'm not saying this in a tone of "You're wrong." I just caught one of our docs on a break and wanted to know for myself to make sure I'm not giving out false info

The recoup does suck regardless, especially with a dog so large. Perhaps if it goes that route maybe make a ramp/purchase a ramp for him to use?

I hope surgery isn't what needs to be done, if it is a partial tear it could potentially heal on its own. The surgeries have also come pretty far, I know with the TTA the heal up time is much quicker, the dogs use their legs a lot sooner than with the suture method.

I also hope that if it isn't a cruciate problem it isn't something super serious because that kind of stuff just isn't allowed!

plebayo wrote:I talked to one of the dr's and she said on regular x-ray you can only see arthritic changes/bone changes if the cruciate has been torn for some time. She said you can see a tear on a ct/mri but not on standard x-ray. Maybe you were seeing those kinds of changes, I saw you mention you've had 4 knees done so maybe the changes were visible in your other dogs.

All I can remember is that when Louie had it done, 15 years ago, he was holding his leg up... so it was torn. Darlene, got hers done in 2005 and it started as limping and progressed to holding it up all the time, too.

I am sure your Vet associate and my Vet are more experts... than my remembering of the facts. Regardless of the confusing details I provide, Truman is going to get x-rayed and my Vet will tell me what we do next.

I know you are being helpful, Suzanne and that is the way I interpret what you, Mallika, Matt or anyone ese who knows about knees (because they work with them) or own dogs with problems, discusses on the forum.

We have a ramp for Connor, it made a huge difference in getting him in and out of the house.

Connor's was almost completely torn, and he was using his leg intermettently. They can still use it if there is something attached in there, and the body can also adjust to not having one at all - as proved by the TPLO surgery.

Michelle

Inside me is a thin woman trying to get out. I usually shut the bitch up with a martini.

I don't have all the medical terms on exactly what needs repair, but the knee specialist from Cornell that my Vet uses will be called for an appt. The next Thursday he can get here, it will be done. This way I can take two days off and have Sat/Sun also.

I can only please one person per day. Today is not your day, tomorrow doesn't look good either.
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"You didn't know of the magical powers of the break stick? It's up there with genies and Harry Potter as far as magic levels go." SisMorphine 01/07/07